Dose-device for washing-machines



Sept. 17, 1963 w. HOLZER 3,104,033

DOSE-DEVICE FOR WASHING-MACHINES Filed May 1, 1961 'llll INVENTOR:

WALTER HOLZER WW.

Attorneys United States Patent 3,104,033 DOSE-DEVICE FOR WASHING-MACHINES Walter Holzer, Drosteweg 19, Meersburg (Bodensee), Baden, Germany Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 106,880 Claims priority, application Germany May 6, 1960 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-135) This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing liquids, and more particularly to a dispenser suitable for use in a washing machine, to dispense liquid washing agents. The invention has for its object to provide a machine that is simple and effective and which if desired can be adapted to dispense a plurality of liquids variously as desired, and at different time intervals.

In an apparatus in accordance with the invention a liquid, or each of a plurality of liquids, is dispensed from one air tight container, by increasing the pressure on the liquid, the necessary pressure being engendered by means of a cam-operated diaphragm type pump.

Conveniently, a piston member bearing against the diaphragm is actuated by a coupling rod or the like, moved by a cam. The extent of movement of the diaphragm and hence quantity of liquid delivered can be controlled by the profile of the cam track and the cam speed. With more than one liquid container, more than one cam track can be provided. If the cam assembly is rotatable, the cam may be arranged to move in either direction from an initial position to operate different diaphragm pumps or combinations of pumps.

The invention thus consists broadly of a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a liquid container and means for applying pressure to the container thereby to deliver liquid from it, said means including a diaphragm device and a cam member for actuating said diaphragm.

In a preferred form of the invention the air pressure in the containers is produced by a diaphragm pump, the diaphragm of which is moved by a cam actuated pushrod bearing against the diaphragm. The coupling rod which drives the air from the diaphragm pump to the container for the liquid to be dispensed can be of low inertia; the extent and speed of the movement of the coupling rod controls the quantity of liquid delivered which is added to the tub of the washing machine and in response to the cam, the time at which the liquid is added. Where a number of coupling rods are operated by a single cam assembly, a variety of liquids can be 'fed to the tub; alternatively, a single liquid can be supplied to the washing liquor at selected time intervals. The profiles of the various cam tracks can be designed to give the most suitable operation.

Conveniently, each coupling rod has at one end roller a cam-follower engaging the appropriate cam track, the other end of the push-rod carrying a piston for driving the diaphragms of the associated pump, the roller causing only slight friction on the cam track. Conveniently, where it is required to dispense two different liquids two coupling rods can be disposed opposite each other though any desired number can be used to dispense a corresponding number of liquids. Each diaphragm pump is connected through a pressure tube to the sealed container; one end of a riser pipe extends to a point in the container near the base thereof, liquid being discharged from the other end of the pipe into a funnel.

With such an arrangement, the surface of the liquid is subjected to a pressure which drives the liquid up the riser pipe, so that the liquid issues from the pipe when the pressure attains a certain value and the liquid will continue to flow until the pressure is reduced. Alternatively, a negative pressure can be induced in the riser to draw liquids out of the container; negative or vacuum pressure can be used in other ways to feed the ice liquid. Conveniently, the cam assembly is driven by a shaft, and the speed and direction of rotation of the shaft being determined by an electric motor having a suitable control means. The apparatus responds rapidly, liquid flowing out of the container, or flow stopping, quickly, when changes in pressure occur, so that it is practicable to effect control by the motor, suitably by a timer controlling the motor circuit.

In a preferred form of the invention the cam assembly is restored to an initial position in which the cam followers are disposed in relation to the cam tracks so that different liquids are fed as the cam is moved in one direction or the other. Asirnple reversal of the motor in this way is not dependent upon voltage variations, so that reliability is improved. Conveniently, the control circuit is. so arranged that, when one operation has been performed, the cam follower is returned to its initial position by rotation of the shaft.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of one embodiment thereof, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,

' which is a diagram showing the general arrangement of parts of a liquid dispenser for dispensing two different liquids, suitable for incorporation in a washing machine.

In this drawing two containers 1, 2 are provided containing the liquids 3, 4 which it is required to dispense; one such liquid can be, for instance, a washing agent and the other a bleaching agent. The liquids are fed at the appropriate times and in the desired quantities from the containers, through pipes 5, 6 and to the washing machine tub, for instance, through funnel 7. Diaphragm pumps 8, 9 are connected through pipes 10, 11 with the containers 1, 2 which are closed against the atmosphere, so that pressure can be exerted on the surface of the respective liquids. The pumps comprise diaphragms 12, 13 against which bear pistons 14, 15; the pistons are coupled to push-rods 16, 17 and carrying cam follower rollers 18, 19. Rollers 18, 19 bear against cams 22 mounted on a disc 21. The disc 21 can be rotated by way of the shaft 24 and of gearing (not shown) from a motor 25, the motor having an associated control circuit arrangement 26 by which the motor 25 can be made to rotate in either direction and at a desired speed. The cams 22 have profiles that include sections such as 29, 30, of which one section rises and the other falls. As the disc 21 oscillates in one or other of the directions indicated by the arrow 23, therefore, the cam 29, 30 acts upon the rollers 18, 19 to reciprocate the push-rods 16, 17 as indicated by the arrows 20. If a single delivery of detergent is required from, say, container 1, roller 18 will travel over the cam 22, in the direction indicated by an arrow 27 as far as the apex of the first cam 22 and then return in the reverse direction. On the other hand, it may be convenient to add bleach from container 2 repeatedly, by applying pressure to the container 2 by repeated, or continuous intermittent movement of disc 21. Non-return air valves 28 are included at any suita ble point in the compressed-air circuit, to admit air on the return stroke of diaphragm 12 or 13; if the quantities of liquid delivered are small it may be sutficient to arrange that air is drawn in through the riser pipes 5, 6.

As many cam discs 21 are provided as required; the separate discs can be coupled to move at the same speed or they can be driven by separate drives to move independently.

The embodiment of the invention described thus affords a simple, reliable and effective means for delivering quantities of liquid at the appropriate times.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid containers closed against the atmosphere, a riser pipe projecting out of each of said containers, a

diaphragm pump associated with each of said containers, a tube connecting each of said pumps with one of said containers, a piston mounted in each of said pumps, a push rod being attached to each of said pistons, a cam follower carried on the free end of each of said push rods, and a single cam disc carrying a plurality of cams at the periphery thereof, said cams being defined by alternatingly rising and falling profile sections disposed along the circumference of said disc for individually engaging said cam followers, said cam disc being adapted to be oscillated, thereby selectively actuating by means of said cams the cam followers of said piston rods depending upon the direction of rotation so as to cause pressure changes in said tubes which result in the controlled delivery of liquid from each of said containers through said niser pipes.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said riser pipes extend close to the bottom of said containers, thereby always reaching below the liquid level.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim I, further comprising an electric motor operatively connected to said cam disc and a control circuit arrangement to determine the operation of said motor.

4. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cams are of different extent so as to effect delivery of different quantities of liquid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Sept. 3, 1952 

1. A LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID CONTAINERS CLOSED AGAINST THE ATMOSPHERE, A RISER PIPE PROJECTING OUT OF REACH OF SAID CONTAINERS, A DIAPHRAGM PUMP ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS, A TUBE CONNECTING EACH OF SAID PUMPS WITH ONE OF SAID CONTAINERS, A PISTON MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID PUMPS, A PUSH ROD BEING ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID PISTONS, A CAM, FOLLOWER CARRIED ON THE FREE END OF EACH OF SAID PUSH RODS, AND A SINGLE CAM DISC CARRYING A PLURALITY OF CAMS AT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID CAMS BEING DEFINED BY ALTERNATINGLY RISING AND FALLING PROFILE SECTIONS DISPOSED ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID DISC FOR INDIVIDUALLY ENGAGING SAID CAM FOLLOWERS, SAID CAM DISC BEING ADAPTED TO BE OSCILLATED, THEREBY SELECTIVELY ACTUATING BY MEANS OF SAID CAMS THE CAM FOLLOWERS OF SAID PISTON RODS DEPENDING UPON THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION SO AS TO CAUSE PRESSURE CHANGES IN SAID TUBES WHICH RESULT IN THE CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF LIQUID FROM EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS THROUGH SAID RISER PIPES. 